Typewriting machine



A. G. F. KUROWSKI Feb. 27, 1923.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE- Filed Apr. 8, 1921 2 sheets-sheet l //7 yen/0hf f Patented Feb. 27, 1923. I

9 ti in 9 ALFREl) G. F. KUROWSKI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF YORK, Ni Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

'ryrnwnrrme MACHINE.

Application filed April 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. F. KURowsin, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn Borough, in the county of Kings, city and State-of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

This inventionrelates to typewriting machines which are used exclusively for sten- "cil Writing.

One feature of the invention is the pro- ,vision of a stencil-holder and holder-operating means which will permit the rapid withdrawal of typed stencils and insertion of fresh stencils. Another feature is the provision of improved means for feeding the stencil upwardly by the usual line-space lever.

Al further feature is the provision of a stencil-holder which will not break or crease heavy stencil frames, but will, nevertheless cause said frames and their attached stencils to conform substantially to the curvatureof the platen at the printing point.

sun another feature of this invention isthe provision of a continuous ribbon adapted to print on the rear of the stencils to render the ty e impressions visible, and 0- .of means for feeding said ribbon by linespace intervals simultaneously with the linea spacing of the stencilh To produce better impressions on the stencils, they are often moistened. Means are provided'by this invention to prevent drops of liquid or other stencil waste from falling into the typehearings or other parts of the machine.

Other features and advantages will here,- inafter appear.

In the accompanyin r drawings,

v Fi ure 1 is a front elevation of an Underwoo typewriting machine, as modified by the invention which is applied thereto, only ,such parts of the machine as (no-operate with the invention being" shown.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure '1, with certain parts omitted.

Fi re 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and showing the stencil-holder and associated parts in lowered position. I

Figure 4 is a. view substantially similar to Figure 3, on a smaller scale. and with parts omitted, and shows the stencil-holder and "platen-shaft.

1921. Serial No. 459,618.

associated parts in raised position, a stencil being shown in the process of insertionin the holder. I

Figure 5 is a vertical'section of a stencil frame and stencil-sheet attached thereto.

Figure 6 is a section substantially'through the axes of carbon-supply and winding rolls. A carriage, indicated generally in Figure 3 by the numeral 10, travels on front and rear rails 8 and 9, and comprises a shiftable platen-frame 11 having end walls 12 and 13, in which is journaleda platen-shaft 14, the shiftable frame being supported in the usual manner by arms 15 pivotally mounted at one end on a rod 16 on the carriage and supporting the shifting frame at the other end 17. The shift-frame is provided with a roller 18 riding on a rail 19 integral with frame 37, the latter bein pivoted on the machine at38'and rotatab e by shift-lever 39. A platen 20 is loosely mounted upon shaft 14:, and is rotated therewith b mechanism, to be hereinafter described, w en the shaft is operated in line-feeding direction by the usual line-space mechanism comprising a lever 21.pivoted on the end wall 12 at 22 and operating a slide 23 having a awl 24 to engage a ratchet-wheel 25 fixe to the The platen is shorter than usual, and is centrally disposed with respect to the shaft.

To either side of the platen is a side plate 26, said side plates being fixed at then upper ends to a tie-strap 27 connecting the end walls of the platen-frame, and connected at their lower ends by a connecting rod 28. To the under side of the tie-strap, just beyond the side plates 26, are fixed depending arms or brackets 30, whose lower ends terminate in'hubs 31, in'which is journaled a shaft 32, Upon the shaft 32 is fixedly mounted the stencil-holding frame comprising side arms 33 terminating in bosses 29 staked to the shaft 32. The arms 33 extend forwardly toward the front ofthe platen, and. are provided with slots 34 to clear shaft 14, the engagement of said shafts with said slots serving to guide the stencil-holding frame in its up-and-down moi ement, to be described hereinafter. The arms 33 broaden out toward the front of the machine and support at their forward ends the stencil-holder, which comprises two U-shaped' members i ing fixed parallel to member 35 between said arms. Members 35 and 36 are spaced apart, by a filler 40, a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the stencil frame employed. The width of the arms 41 and the height of connecting piece 40 of the fille are less than the width of the arms 42, 43, 44, 45 and the height of connecting pieces 46, 47 of the members 35 and 36 forming the holder, to allow the stencil frame to project into said holder.

The distance between the inside edges of the filler arms 41 allows a stencil frame of but a single width tobe employed. It may be desirable to employ a stencil frame of less width, and, unless means were provided for reducing the distance between the inside edges of the filler arms 41, the stencil frame would move lengthwise of the platen while being typed. To provide for a stencil frame of less width, arm 45 is provided with a cutout portion to permit a slide 48 to shift forwardy and .backwardly by means of a bracket 49-to which lit is fixed, said bracket being mounted on the adjacent arm 33 by means of a screw 57 projecting into a slot 58 in' arm 33. Slide 48 is of greater width than arm 41 of filler 40, and, by moving the slide forwardly into the space between arms 43 and 45, and over arm 41, which is cut off at the top for this purpose, the total width available to the stencil frame is reduced by the difference in width between slide 48 and arm 41.

The stencil frame comprises side members 50, a top connecting member 51, and a bottom connecting member 52. To this frame is attached a waxed stencil-sheet 53, upon which the typed impressions are to be made.

,The stencil frame is generally of cardboard or material of substantially the same consistency, which it is not desirable to bend too much. It is desirable, however, that the stencil-sheet conform to some extent to the curvature of the platen at the printing point in order that the types, which are also slightly curved, may strike squarely upon the stencil-sheet to give a full impression of the type. For this purpose, the stencil-members 35 and 3 6 are curved, but the radius of curvature is much greater than that of the platen, the radius being the distance from the axis of shaft 32 to the members 35 and 36. As appears clearly from Figure 3 of the drawings, the shaft 32 at which is located thecenter of curvature of the stencilholding members 35 and 36 is arranged in the horizontal plane passing through the printing line and the axis of the platen, so that the angular relation between the stenciL holder and the adjacent portion of the faceof the platen is the same in all of the various line-space positions of the stencil-holder relative to the platen. The stencil-holder is thus caused at all times to hug the platen closely at the printing line. The stencilsheets are sometimes moistened to produce better impressions, and, to prevent water from dripping down into the bearings and other parts of the machine, there is provided an inclined gutter 54 mounted on some fixed portion of the machine. The utter is shown here as mounted on the rear 0 the usual sege ment bridge 55, in which arepivoted the type-bars 56, and will carry off water and other stencil waste.

The usual inking-ribbon is not employed when typing a stencil, but, for purposes of identification and classification, a title or heading is usually printed in the ordinary manner on the stencil frame. For this purpose, the usual ribbon 121 is employed. \Vhen the stencil is to be typed, ribbon-silencing mechanism (like that shown in the patent to Cook, No. 926,050, granted June 22. 1909) may be employed.

The shaft 14 is rotated by means of said pawl-and-ratchet mechanism 21-25 for the I purpose of line-spacing the stencil,- which. as explained, swings up about the pivot or hinge 32. For said purpose, the shaft 14 is provided with a pair of arms 62, 68, which act directly upon the side bars 33 of the hinged stencil frame, said arms 62, 68 being provided with pins 66 and 69 working in slots 67 in said arms. When the shaft 14'is rotated, said arms swing up, and by means of pins 66 lift the stencil frame, comprising said bars 33 and the stencil-holder 42, 43 46.

Preferably the platen 20 is rotated in either one direction or the other concomitantly with such line-feeding movement of the stencil frame, whereby a fresh surface of the platen is exposed to the type blows at each new line of writing. Preferably the direction of rotation of the platen is the" same as that of the stencil-holder. This intermittent rotation of the platen is effected by means of an arm 61, fixed upon said shaft 14, and carrying a driving pawl 63, which is ressed by a spring 64 into mesh with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 65 fixed to the platen. Said arms 61. 62 are provided with a common hub 60, whereby they are secured to said shaft 14. It will thus be apparent that actuation of the line-space lever 21 will rotate the shaft 14, carrying said arms 61. 62 and 66 therewith. and the pins 66 and 69 will lift the hinged stencil frame to effect a line spacing movement thereof; while the pawl 63 will rotate the ratchet wheel 65 and platen idly to such an extent as may be desired, dependent upon the )itch of the teeth and the length of stroke 0 the pawl.

When the stencil-holding frame has reached its uppermost position, i. e., when the stencil has been fully typed, the latter may be withdrawn and a new stencil inserted. The stencil-holding frame may then be lowered by rotating the shaft 14 downwardly by means of knob or finger-wheel 7 0..

Arms 62 and 68 fixed to move with the shaft will rotate the stencil-holding frame clownwardly. Arm 61. will move in a clockwise direction, pawl 63 riding idly over ratchetwheel 65, which is held, together with the platen, against rotation by a spring detent fixed at one end in a hub or collar 76 end outside of the right plate 26. A woodencore is fixed between flanges 86 and 87 by pins 88 and 89, said flanges being fixed to the shaft, so that core 85 moves rigidly with the shaft. The wide ribbon 7 9 is Wound on the core by means of handle 84, and the free end is led around rollers 90 and 91 beneath the platen, thence between the platen and the stencil, and is wound on a core 92, which runs loosely upon a shaft 93 fixed in collars 98, 99 on the side plates. The core 92 is provided with flanges 94, fixed thereto by pins 96, 97.

To draw the ribbon off core 85 and wind it upon core 92 at line-space intervals simultaneously with the line-spacing of the stencil, a ratchet-wheel is fixed to move with core 92 upon shaft 93. The wheel 119 is operated by a pawl 111v pivoted on a rockarm 112 mounted on shaft 93. The'pawl is normally pressed into engagement with the ratchet-wheel 110'by a spring, similar to spring 64. The outer end of the rock-arm 112 is pivoted to one end of a link 114, the other end of said link being pivoted to a rock-arm 115 formed on hub 60. By this arrangement, it will be seen that rotation of shaft 14 will rotate arm 115 to move link 114 upwardly, thus rocking arm 112 upwardly. the pawl rotating core 92 to wind the used ribbon. A spring inserted between flange 87 and the adjacent fixed bushing 82 supplies sufficient tension to eliminate any slack in the ribbon.

From the above description. 'itwill be apparent that actuation of the line-space handle will rotate shaft 14, and hence arms 61, 62, 68 and 115, on said shaft, to line-space the stencil, the platen, and the ribbon simultaneously. It will also be apparent that, by rotating finger-wheel 70 dmvnwardly the parts will be returned to their normal positions, exceptthatspring detent 75 will prevent the return of the platen, and a spring detent 122 will prevent the return of the winding core 92.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen-frame, a shaft journaled therein, a platen mounted on said frame, a linespace mechanism for rotating said shaft step by step,, a pivotally-mounted stencilholding frame comprising forwardly-extending arms and a stencil-holder carried by said arms at the front ofsaid platen, and a rock-arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said stencil-holding frame to raise the latter when the line-space mechanism is operated.

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen-frame, a shaft journaled therein, a platen mounted on said shaft, a line-space mechanism for rotating said shaft comprising a ratchet-wheel fixed to said shaft, and means for operating said ratchetwheel, a pivotally-mounted stencil-holding frame comprising forwardly-extending arms and a. stencil-holder carried by said arms at the front of said platen, a rock-arm fixed tosaid shaft and connected to said stencilholding frame to raise the latter when the line-space mechanism is operated, and a finger-wheel on said shaft for rotating said shaft and stencil-holding frame downwardly to initial position.

In a, typewrlting machine, in combination, .aplaten-frame, a shaft journaled therein, a platen mounted on said shaft, a line-space mechanism for rotating said shaft step by step, a pivotally-mounted stencil-holding frame comprising forwardlyextending arms and a stencil-holder carried by said arms at the front of said platen, a rock-arm fixed to said shaft adjacent to one of said forwardly-extending arms which is provided with a slot, and a pin on said rock-arm operating in said slot, so that actuation of said line-space mechanism rotates said rock-arm to raise said stencil-holding being provided with a slot and each of the rock-arms having fixed thereto a pin oper ating in the slot of the adjacent forwardly-- extending arm. so that actuation of said line-space mechanism rotates said. rocln arms to raise said stencil-holding frame.

5. In a typewriting machine. in combination, a platen-frame, a shaft journaled there in, a platen mounted on said shaft, and a stencil-holding frame comprising arms pivotally mounted at their rear ends on'the platen-frame and extendingforwardly, the length of said arms being greater than the radius of the platen, and a curved stencilholder carried by said arms at the forward ends thereof for movement in front of said platen, the radius of curvature of said stencil-holder being greater than that of the platen and substantially equal to the length of said arms.

6. In a typewriting machine. in combination, a platen-frame, a shaft journaled therein, a platen mounted on said shaft, a stencilholding fra-me comprising arms pivotally mounted at their rear ends on the platenframe and extending forwardly, the length of said arms being greater than the radius of the platen. and a curved stencil-holder carried by said arms at the forward ends thereof for movement in front of said platen. the radius of curvature of said stencil -holder being greater than that of the platen and substantially equal to the length of said arms. means for moving said stencil-holding frame upwardly, and means for returning said stencil-holding frame to initial position, said arms having slots through which said shaft passes, so that said arms may clear said shaft during the movement of the stencil-holding frame.

7. in a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen-frame. a shaft journaled there in, a platen mounted on said shaft, brackets fixed to said platen-frame. a second shaftjournaled in said brackets. a stencil-holding frame fixed to said second shaft and courprising forwardly-extending arms of greater length than the radius of said platen. and a curved stencil-holder carried by said arms at the forward ends thereof for movement in front of said platen. the radius of curva ture of said stencil-holder being greater than thatof the platen and substantially equal to the length of said arms, means for moving said stencil-holding frame u 'iwardly. and means for returning said stencil-holdiim; frame to initial position. said arms having slots through which said shaft passes. so that said arms may clear said shaft during the movement of said stencil-holding frame.

8. In a typewriting machine. in combina tion, aplaten-frame. a shaft journaled therein. a platen mounted on said shaft. a stencilholding frame comprising a stencil-holder at the front of the platen, and means fixed to'said machine beneath said stencil-holder for preventing the stencil waste from failing into and lodging in said machine.

9. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen-franie, a shaft journaled therein, a platen mounted on said shaft, stenciL holding frame comprising a stencil-holder at the front of the platen, and. an inclined gutter fixed to said machine beneath said stencil-holder for preventing the stencil waste from falling into and lodging in said machine and for carrying off the waste from the interior of the machine.

10. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen-frame, a shaft journaled therein, a platen mounted on said shaft, a stencilholding frame comprising a stencil-holder at the front of the platen, said holder comprising walls arranged substantially parallel to each other and to the platen and being spaced from each other to provide a recess between them for receiving stencil frames, and means for varying the Width of said recess to fit stencil frames of different widths.

11. In a typewriting machine, in combination. a platen-frame. a platen mounted on said frame, a stencil-holding frame comprising a stencil-holder at the front of the platen, said holder having a recess for accommodating stencil frames, and means for varying the width of said recess to fit stencil frames of different widths. said means comprising a slidable plate movable in and out of said recess, said plate when moved into said recess reducing the width thereof to fit a narrower stencil.

12. In a. i'iypewriting machine, in combination, a platen-frame. a platen mounted on said frame, astencil-holding frame comprising forwardly-extending arms and a stencilholder supported by said arms at the front of the platen, said stencil-holder having a recess to accommodate stencil frames, means for varying the width of said recess to fit stencil frames of different widths, said means comprising a plate slidably mounted on one of said arms and movable into and out of said recess. said plate when moved into said recess reducing the widtlrthereof to fit a. narrower stencil. and means for clamping the plate on said arm in adjusted position.

13. in a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage. comprising a platen-frame, a shaft journaled in said platen-frame,a short platen mounted on said shaft, a pair of side-plates fixed out said platen-frame, one to either side of said platen, and a stencil-holding frame pivotally mounted on said platen-frame and comprising forwardly-extending arms adjacent to said side-plates. and a stencil-holder fixed to said arms at the front of. said platen.

1%. In a typewriting machine. in combination, a *arriage comprising a platenframe, a shaft journaled in said platenframe. ashort platen mounted on said shaft. a tiestrap fixed to said platenframe, a fixed frame attached to said tiestrap and comprising a pair of side-plates, one to either side of said platen, a pair of iae depending brackets, and a stencil-holding frame comprising a shaft journaled in said bracket and. having forwardly-extending arms fixed thereto, said arms lying adjacent to said side-plates, and a stencil-holder carried by said arms at the front of said platen.

15. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a. carriage comprising a platen-frame, a shaft journaled in said laten-frame, a short platen mounted on said shaft, a tiestrap fixed to said platen-frame, a fixed frame attached to said tie-strap and comprising a pair of side-plates, one to either side of said platen, a pair of depending brackets, a stencil-holding frame comprising a shaft journaled in saidbrackets and having forwardly-extending arms fixed thereto, said arms lying adjacent to said side-plates, and a stencil-holder carried by said arms at the front of said platen, a shaft mounted between said side-plates, an inkribbon supply-spool mounted on said shaft, a second shaft mounted between said sideplates, a ribbon-winding-spool mounted on said second shaft, and a ribbon mounted on said supply-spool, said ribbon passing from the supply-spool around said platen between the platen and the stencil-holder to said winding-spool.

16. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage comprisin a platen-frame, a shaft journaled in sai platen-frame, a platen loosely mounted on said shaft, a stencil-holding frame pivotally mounted on said platen-frame, an arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said stencil-holding frame,

a second arm fixed to said shaft and connect-- ed to said platen, and a line-space mechanism connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and arms at line-spacing intervals to line-space said stencil-holding frame and said platen simultaneously.

17 In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage comprising a platen-frame, a shaft journaled in said platen-frame. a platen loosely mounted on said shaft, a ratchet-wheel fixed to said platen, a stencilholding frame pivotally mounted on said platen-frame, an arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said stencil-holding frame, a second armfixed to said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted .on said second arm and normally pressed into engagement with said ratchet-wheelyand a line-space mechanism connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and arms at line-space intervals to line-space said stencil-holding frame and said platen simultaneously.

18. In a typewritingmachine, in combination, a carriage comprising a platenframe, a shaft ournaled in said platenframe, a platen loomly mounted on said shaft, a ratchet-wheel fixed to said platen, a stencil-holding frame pivotally mounted on 'to said platen, an inking-ribbon su plyspool, a, rlbbon-winding-spool, an infi .said platen-frame an arm fixed to saidv mechanism connected to said shaft for ro- .tating said shaft and arms at line-space intervals to line-space said stencil-holding frame and said platen simultaneously.

19. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage comprising a platenframe, a shaft-journaled in said platenframe, a platen loosely mounted on said shaft, a'ratchet-wheel fixed to said platen, a stencil-holding frame pivotally mounted on said platen-frame, an arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said stencil-holding frame, a second arm fixed to said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted. on said second arm and normally pressedinto engagement with said ratchet-wheel. a line-space mechanism connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and arms forwardly at line-space intervals toline-space said-stencil-holding said stencil-holding frameto initial posi:

tion. and a spring detent engaging said frame and said plate-n simultaneously. a I

ratchet-wheel to prevent the return ofthe platen to initial position, said pawl riding idly over said ratchet-wheel on the return movement.

20. In a typewriting machine, in combi nation, a carriage comprising a platenframe, a shaft journaled in said platenframe, a platen loosely' mounted on said shaft, a mounted on said platei'i-framev and comprising a stencil-holder at the front of the platen, an arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said stencil-holding frame, a second arm fixed to saidshaft and connected in ribbon mounted on said s11 ply-spool, sai d ribbon passing between said stencil-holder and said platen tosaid winding-spool, a third arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said winding-spool, and a line-space mechanism connected to said shaft for, rotating said shaft and arms at line-space-intervals to line-space said stencil-holding frame and platen and feed said windingspool simultaneously. 7

Y 21. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage comprising a platenframe, a platen-shaft journaled in, said platen-frame, a platen loosely mounted on said shaft, a stencil-holding frame pivota l'ly mounted on said laten-frame and comprising a stencil-ho der at the loo stencil-holding frame pivotally space the frame and in an op front of the platen, an arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said stencilholding frame, a second arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said platen, a ribbon-supply-spool, a ribbon-Windingspool, a shaft upon which said windingspool is loosely mounted. a ratchet-wheel fixed to said Windingspool, a rock-arm rotatable on said last-named shaft and having a pawl pivotally mounted thereon and normally pressed into engagement with said ratchet-Wheel, a third arm fixed to said platen-shaft, a link fixed at one end to said third arm and at the other end to said rockarm, and mechanism connected to said platen-shaft for actuating said shaft and arms at line-space intervals to raise said stencil-holding frame, rotate said platen and feed said ribbon-winding-spool simultaneously.

22. In a typewritinp machine, in combination, a carriage comprising a platenframe, a shaftjournaled in said platenframe, a platen loosely mounted on the shaft, a stencil-holding frame mounted on the platen-frame for line-spacing movement relatively thereto, means for rotating the shaft, and connections between the shaft and the laten and between the shaft and the stencl -h0lding frame for advancing the platen and imparting line-spacing movements to said frame upon rotation'of the shaft, said connections being constructed to enable the stencil-holding frame to be returned to starting position by rotation of the shaft without reverse rotation of the platen.

23. In a typewrit-ing machine, in combination, a carriage comprising a platenframe, a platen rotatably mounted in said frame, a stencil-holding frame mounted on the platen-frame for line-spacing movement relatively thereto, mechanism for imparting line-spacing movements to said frame, said mechanlsm comprising an actuating element positively connected to the frame and movable in one direction to lineite direction to return the frame to starting position, and connections between said element and the platen for rotating the platen. upon line-spacing movement of the frame, said connections being constructed to enable the steneil-holding frame to be returned to rename movement to the stencil-holder upon rotation of the shaft in either direction, means for rotating the shaft step by etc in one direction to line-space the stencil-holder, means for rotating the shaft in the opposite direction to return the stencil-holder to starting position, and pa-Wl-and-ratchet connections between the shaft and the platen for advancing the platen upon step-by-step rotation of the shaft and for enabling the stencil-holding frame to be returned to starting position by reverse rotation of the shaft without reverse-rotation of the platen.

2,5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen-frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a stencil-holding frame comprising arms ivotally mounted at their rear ends on the p aten-frame and extending forwardly, the length of said arms being greater than the radius of the platen, a curved stencil-holder carried by said arms at the forward ends thereof for movement in front of said platen, the radius of curvature of said stencil-holder being greater than that of the platen and the center of curvature of the holder being located substantially at the fulcrum point of said arms, and means for imparting line-space movements to the stencil-holder, said stencil holder being located close to the printing line of the platen when in initial position and the center of curvature of the holder being located substantially in the horizontal plane passing through the platen at the printing line, so that saidstencil-holder is caused to closely hug the platen at the printing line in allof the various linespace positions of the "steneihholder relative to the platen.

ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI.

Witnesses:

EDITH B.- LIBBEY, JENNIE P. THonnn.,-' 

